
Fact check: Does sunscreen increase skin cancer risk? – DW – 07/17/2025
Posts on social media have popped up recently, claiming that applying sunscreen reportedly increases the risk of skin cancer. Even though ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the main cause of melanomas, and sunscreen helps protect skin by filtering UV rays, these posts claim that sunscreen itself is doing damage.
Claim: "It is an indisputable fact that the countries that use the most sunscreen, have the highest incidence of skin cancer," said this X userin a post with close to 60,000 followers. "And the more sunscreen they use, the greater the prevalence." There are also TikTok videoswarning about sunscreen.
DW Fact check: False
"There is no scientific evidence that supports the association of sunscreen use with a higher risk of cancer," Brittany Schaefer, Public Information Officer with the Connecticut State Department of Public Healthtold DW.
The X post attributed the chart to the Connecticut Tumor Registry (CTR), but Schaefer says that was inaccurate.
"The original cancer incidence data likely came from the CT Tumor Registry decades ago, but not the added text boxes regarding sunscreens. We do not know the source of the actual graphic, but it was not from CTR or the Connecticut Department of Public Health," she said.
But why is the number of global skin cancer cases on the rise, even though more and more people are using sunscreen? A study across several countries from December 2023involving scientists from the US, Switzerland, Germany and Hungary looked at five hypotheses to get to the bottom of this.
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According to the study, possible reasons for misunderstandings and myths around linking skin cancer risk and sun protection include access to better diagnostics and treatment methods, outdated scientific studies, erratic use of sunscreen and climate change.
Rising awareness about skin cancer risks among both patients and doctors has led to an increase in reporting and documenting cases. In contrast to higher skin cancer incidence worldwide, the mortality rate has dropped due to better treatment options, says the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer.
According to the World Cancer Research Fund, Australia had the highest age-standardized incidence rate of new cases in 2022: 37 new skin cancer cases per 100,000 people per year, followed by Denmark (31.1), Norway (30.6), New Zealand (29.8) and Sweden (27.4).
The US ranked first with 101,388 cases in terms of the total number of skin cancer cases in 2022, while Germany ranked second with 21,976 skin cancer cases, with an identical incidence rate of 16.5.
In terms of the number of skin cancer deaths in 2022, the US again took the lead with 7,368 deaths, while Germany ranked fourth with 3,303 cases, behind China and Russia. The following graph also shows that a high incidence rate of skin cancer does not necessarily correspond to a higher mortality rate.
Another reason for rising skin cancer rates could also be the fact that people spend more time outside in the sun. Even if they applied sunscreen, that was no guarantee that they used it as intended to protect their skin.
The lack of current scientific studies further adds to the problem of reinforcing outdated narratives. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) only began regulating sunscreen in 2011. All prior studies examining sunscreen use and the development of melanoma were likely conducted with products that did not offer the same level of protection as those currently on the market.
But are people in countries with the highest rates of skin cancer cases such as New Zealand, Australia, Sweden, Norway, Canada and the US really using more sunscreen, as users on social media have claimed?
It is true that the global sale of sunscreen is on the rise. And according to the sunscreen industry, the revenue of global sun protection skin care is projected to reach about $13.553 million (€11.594 million) by 2028. The biggest markets are the US, followed by China and South Korea.
And then there's the question of how people are using sunscreen. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 38% of people aged 15 years and over said they used SPF30 or higher on most days in the last month.
However, 7% said they had experienced sunburn in the last week. Young people aged 15–24 years were more likely to experience sunburn in the last week (about 15%).
A poll in the US by Talker Research, published in May of this year, found that less than half (41%) of the 2,000 adults polled said they wear sunscreen more than 60 days of the year. And 13% said they typically don't wear sunscreen at all.
In Germany, about half of the people asked in an online poll from August 2024 said they would only use sunscreen in summer or when being directly in the sun.
Sybille Kohlstädt, spokesperson for the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), warns against false conclusions due to a lack of valid data regarding sun protection.
"In contrast to existing data on the growing global prevalence of skin cancer, there are no country-specific statistics that break down sunscreen use and relate it to skin cancer prevalence."

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11 hours ago
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Hazardous 'forever chemicals' found in period products – DW – 07/26/2025
Period underwear and menstrual cups are touted as an environmentally-friendly alternative to pads and tampons. Now a team of researchers has discovered that they can contain risky "forever chemicals," or PFAS. The name sounds almost poetic: forever chemicals. But these are perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which get their name from the fact that they practically never decompose — and stay in our environment forever. They also have serious consequences for humans. Some PFAS are carcinogenic, while others have an effect on the immune system or reduce the effectiveness of vaccinations. "PFAS can affect fertility, sperm quality or even the development of the child in the womb," toxicologist Marike Kolossa-Gehring told the German TV show . Forever chemicals have also been linked to thyroid disorders and high blood pressure. Now, a research team in the US has found that these chemicals can be found in reusable period products. Almost a third of the period underwear, menstrual cups and reusable pads tested by the scientists were made using these toxic chemicals. The team, led by Alyssa Wicks and Graham Peaslee at the US University of Notre Dame, tested 59 reusable period products from North America, South America and Europe. The researchers found low levels in some products, which were most likely packaging residues. But in some products, the levels were so high that PFAS must have been used in the manufacturing process — even though they would work just as well without the toxic chemicals. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video "We found PFAS in some, but not all of the products," Peaslee, a physicist and professor emeritus at Notre Dame University, told DW. "So it's not necessary. Some don't have PFAS, and they sell fine." The chemicals can cause harm to humans in two ways. The direct route is absorption through the skin of the wearer. "The skin absorbs between 1% and 50% of PFAS in the product," said Peaslee. "Even if only 1% or 2% are absorbed, that's still bad." The indirect route endangers not only the individual using the item, but everyone else, too. When the products are disposed of, the chemicals end up in our water cycle, where, as their name suggests, they do not decompose. People the wind up absorbing PFAS via their drinking water or food that has been irrigated with contaminated groundwater. "These products are sold as eco-friendly, because they produce less waste than single-use products," says Peaslee. "But this chemical class is particularly terrifying, because they're everywhere and don't go away." PFAS are widespread. They are water and dirt repellent, as well as resistant to pressure and heat. This makes them attractive for companies like clothing and packaging manufacturers. Forever chemicals can be found in water-repellent jackets or shoes, in tents and in food packaging. PFAS are even used in cosmetics to alter the consistency of the product, or as a colorant, for example. With the study, Wicks, Peaslee and their team want to raise awareness of the dangers of PFAS in menstrual products, both among companies and consumers. They do not mention brand names in their published report. "We didn't want to be sued," said Peaslee, adding that could easily happen in the US. The researcher said that it would be more cost-effective for producers to omit PFAS from their products, as these materials are expensive. However, at the end of the day, he expects any industry move away from PFAS will primarily be driven by consumers. "Consumers have a lot of market power," says Peaslee. "Consumers should ask [whether products are manufactured without PFAS] and be vocal about their choices. If there's demand, companies will start to test for [the chemicals] and say when their products don't contain PFAS. And companies won't lie, because they don't want to get sued, either."


DW
12 hours ago
- DW
Middle East: Aid trucks begin entering Gaza from Egypt – DW – 07/27/2025
The first aid trucks have arrived in the Palestinian territory to help ease a worsening humanitarian crisis. Israel has announced a pause in the fighting in some areas to help food distribution. DW has the latest. Aid trucks have begun entering Gaza from Egypt, Egyptian state-linked media reported, hours after Israel bowed to mounting pressure to ease the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory. "Egyptian aid trucks begin to enter the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing," Al-Qahera News posted on X, alongside footage of convoys moving in the border area. Israel said Saturday it had begun airdrops of aid after months of accusations that it was restricting aid supplies to the war-devastated territory. On Sunday, the Israeli military said "humanitarian corridors" would allow United Nations aid trucks to deliver food and other vital supplies to Gaza residents. The military also promised "humanitarian pauses" in the fighting in densely populated areas. Aid organizations warned last week of mass hunger among Gaza's population, despite Israeli denials that it was restricting food deliveries. Dozens of Palestinians have died of malnutrition in the past few weeks, according to the Gaza Health Ministry in the Hamas-run enclave. Israel cut off all supplies to Gaza in March, before resuming them in May with new restrictions. Israel's military said Sunday it would begin a "tactical pause" in fighting in three areas of Gaza to help aid agencies deliver food and other supplies. The decision follows huge international pressure on Israel to ease the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave. Experts have warned of a famine in Gaza due to Israel's curbs on aid supplies. Several hundred Palestinians have been killed in recent weeks while trying to reach food distribution sites. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The pause will take place daily in Al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah and Gaza City, from 10 a.m. local time (0700 GMT/UTC) to 8 p.m. (1700 GMT/UTC) until further notice, the military said. Israel also said its military was not active in those areas, but there had been fighting and strikes in recent weeks. The statement added that Israel would designate secure routes to help aid agencies make vital deliveries to people across Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had airdropped humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. "The IDF recently carried out an airdrop of humanitarian aid as part of the ongoing efforts to allow and facilitate the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip," the military posted on Telegram in the early hours of Sunday morning. The drop included seven crates of aid containing flour, sugar and canned food, it added. Footage provided by the IDF showed white parachutes opening from the crates as they were dropped from a plane into the darkness over Gaza. In a statement posted on X late Saturday, the Israeli Foreign Ministry announced that it would "apply a 'humanitarian pause' in civilian centers and in humanitarian corridors to enable the distribution of aid supply" in Gaza. The Foreign Ministry again blamed the United Nations for failing to distribute assistance in the Strip. It added that "Israel rejects the false accusations of 'starvation' propaganda initiated by Hamas." UN officials have rejected responsibility for the failure to deliver aid to Palestinians in Gaza, saying aid workers have not received the permissions necessary to provide food, water and other humanitarian aid safely. The pro-Palestinian activist group Freedom Flotilla said Saturday that Israeli forces had intercepted its latest Gaza-bound aid boat, theHandala. "The Israeli army is here. We are throwing our phones into the sea. See you soon. Stop the genocide," Emma Fourreau, a French member of the European Parliament and part of the Handala crew, posted on X. A livestream broadcast by the group showed the activists sitting on deck with their hands up as Israeli soldiers boarded the boat. The Handala had already sailed closer to Gaza than the group's previous vessel, the Madleen, which was intercepted by Israeli forces last month. At the start of the ongoing war, Israel tightened it maritime blockade of the Palestinian territory, which went into place when Hamas took control of Gaza in Israeli military announced that airdrops of aid to Gaza would resume and that humanitarian corridors would be established for United Nations convoys. "The airdrops will include seven pallets of aid containing flour, sugar, and canned food to be provided by international organizations," it said in a statement. The military's statement did not specify when the humanitarian corridors would open or where. It said that the military "emphasizes that combat operations have not ceased" in Gaza against Hamas. The statement also added that there is "no starvation" in the territory. International health and aid organizations have repeatedly raised concerns about the dire conditions and severe shortage of essential supplies in Gaza during the 21-month conflict. Experts have also criticized airdrops of aid as vastly insufficient for the some 2 million Palestinians in Gaza in desperate need of food, water, medicine and other supplies. Before the start of the war in Gaza, 500 truckloads of goods crossed into the Palestinian territory each day, according to the United Nations The Emirati foreign minister said on Saturday that the United Arab Emirates will resume airdrops to deliver aid to Gaza at once. "The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached a critical and unprecedented level," Emirati Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan posted on X. "We will ensure essential aid reaches those most in need, whether through land, air or sea. Airdrops are resuming once more, immediately." His remarks follow Israel's announcement on Friday that it would allow airdrops of aid by foreign countries into Gaza to alleviate starvation in the Palestinian territory. The relatives of 50 hostages still in Gaza are growing more frustrated. Some are losing faith that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will ever strike a deal to bring them home. DW's Tania Krämer met Yehuda Cohen in front of the Likud party's Tel Aviv headquarters at a sit-in organized by families of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. His son, Nimrod, has been held captive for 22 months. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The United Kingdom is working with Middle Eastern allies including Jordan on plans to airdrop aid into the Gaza Strip and evacuate children in need of medical care, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office said on Saturday. "The prime minister set out how the UK will be taking forward plans to work with partners such as Jordan to airdrop aid and evacuate children requiring medical assistance," read a statement after Starmer held a three-way phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. During the conversation, the three leaders agreed that the humanitarian situation in Gaza was "appalling" and that it would be "vital to ensure robust plans are in place to turn an urgently needed ceasefire into lasting peace," according to the Downing Street readout. "They discussed their intention to work closely together on a plan ... which would pave the way to a long-term solution and security in the region," it continued. "They agreed that once this plan was worked up, they would seek to bring in other key partners, including in the region, to advance it." In Berlin, Chancellor Merz's office spoke of "large agreement" on the call – despite Germany so far refusing to criticize Israel to the extent that the UK and France have done, with the latter even set to officially recognize Palestinian statehood later this year. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video "We will be coordinating very closely in the coming days to take the next steps," said Merz. The phone call came a day after United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres slammed the international community for turning a blind eye to widespread starvation in the Gaza Strip, calling it a "moral crisis that challenges the global conscience." For the first time in months, Israel said it is allowing airdrops, requested by neighboring Jordan. An official in Amman said the airdrops will mainly be food and milk formula. But the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, warned on social media that airdrops are "expensive, inefficient and can even kill starving civilians" and won't reverse the increasing starvation or prevent aid diversion. "A man-made hunger can only be addressed by political will," he said, demanding: "Lift the siege, open the gates and guarantee safe movements and dignified access to people in need." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Some 40 people died while trying to access humanitarian aid, including 16 who were shot by Israeli forces, in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, according to local Palestinian authorities and medics. Doctors at the Shifa Hospital in Gaza City said that 16 people were killed and another 300 injured near the northern Zikim border crossing waiting for trucks carrying aid. One witness told the AFP news agency that Israeli troops opened fire "while the people were waiting to approach the distribution point." The Israeli military told AFP that its troops fired "warning shots to distance the crowd" after identifying an unspecified "immediate threat." Elsewhere, Gaza's Hamas-run civil defense agency said nine people were killed in three separate Israeli air strikes in Gaza City, eleven in four separate strikes near the southern city of Khan Yunis and two in a drone strike in Nuseirat refugee camp. The Palestinian militant group Hamas expressed surprise on Saturday at suggestions from US President Donald Trump that the group "didn't really want" a ceasefire and hostage release deal for Gaza. Trump made the allegation on Friday after Israel and the United States walked out of indirect negotiations with Hamas in Qatar that had lasted nearly three weeks. "Trump's remarks are particularly surprising, especially as they come at a time when progress had been made on some of the negotiation files," said a spokesman for the Islamist group which launched the deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which sparked the current conflict. "So far, we have not been informed of any issues regarding the files under discussion in the indirect ceasefire negotiations", he added. Though not part of the Hamas negotiating team, Hamas politburo member Izzat al-Rishq insisted the group had shown "flexibility" in the talks, but Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff accused Hamas of not "acting in good faith." Hello and welcome to DW's coverage of developments in Gaza, Israel and the wider Middle East on Saturday, July 26. In a three-way conversation with his French and German counterparts, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the United Kingdom was working with regional partners such as Jordan on a plan to airdrop aid into the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, medics and Hamas officials said that dozens more Palestinians had been killed by Israeli fire, some while waiting for humanitarian aid.


DW
a day ago
- DW
Hazardous 'forever chemicals' in period products – DW – 07/26/2025
Period underwear and menstrual cups are touted as an environmentally-friendly alternative to pads and tampons. Now a team of researchers has discovered that they can contain risky "forever chemicals," or PFAS. The name sounds almost poetic: forever chemicals. But these are perfluoralkyl or polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS), which get their name from the fact that they practically never decompose — and stay in our environment forever. They also have serious consequences for humans. Some PFAS are carcinogenic, others have an effect on the immune system or reduce the effectiveness of vaccinations. "PFAS can affect fertility, sperm quality or even the development of the child in the womb," toxicologist Marike Kolossa-Gehring told the German TV show . Forever chemicals have also been linked to thyroid disorders and high blood pressure. Now a research team in the US has found that these chemicals can be found in reusable period products. Almost a third of the period underwear, menstrual cups, and reusable pads tested by the scientists were made using thSee toxic chemicals. The team, led by Alyssa Wicks and Graham Peaslee at the US University of Notre Dame, tested 59 reusable period products from North America, South America and Europe. The researchers found low levels in some products, which were most likely packaging residues. But in some products, the levels were so high that PFAS must have been used in the manufacturing process — even though they would work just as well without the toxic chemicals. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video "We found PFAS in some, but not all of the products," Peaslee, a physicist and professor emeritus at Notre Dame University, told DW. "So it's not necessary. Some don't have PFAS, and they sell fine." The chemicals can cause harm to humans in two ways. The direct route is absorption through the skin of the wearer. "The skin absorbs between 1% and 50% of PFAS in the product," said Peaslee. "Even if only 1% or 2% are absorbed, that's still bad." The indirect route endangers not only the individual using the item, but everyone else, too. When the products are disposed of, the chemicals end up in our water cycle, where, as their name suggests, they do not decompose. People the wind up absorbing PFAS via their drinking water or food that has been irrigated with contaminated groundwater. "These products are sold as eco-friendly, because they produce less waste than single-use products," says Peaslee. "But this chemical class is particularly terrifying, because they're everywhere and don't go away." PFAS are widespread. They are water and dirt repellent, as well as resistant to pressure and heat. This makes them attractive for companies like clothing and packaging manufacturers. Forever chemicals can be found in water-repellent jackets or shoes, in tents and in food packaging. PFAS are even used in cosmetics to alter the consistency of the product, or as a colorant, for example. With the study, Wicks, Peaslee and their team want to raise awareness of the dangers of PFAS in menstrual products, both among companies and consumers. They do not mention brand names in their published report. "We didn't want to be sued," said Peaslee, adding that could easily happen in the US. The researcher said that it would be more cost-effective for producers to omit PFAS from their products, as these materials are expensive. However, at the end of the day, he expects any industry move away from PFAS will primarily be driven by consumers. "Consumers have a lot of market power," says Peaslee. "Consumers should ask [whether products are manufactured without PFAS] and be vocal about their choices. If there's demand, companies will start to test for [the chemicals] and say when their products don't contain PFAS. And companies won't lie, because they don't want to get sued, either."